Multi-purpose therapeutic brassiere

ABSTRACT

A multi-purpose brassiere for selectively applying heat and cold to substantially the entire breast area of an individual including a pair bodies having outer and inner layer of material connected together to form an internal pocket. A conventional ceramic material is inserted into the pocket to apply heat or cold to substantially the over and above breast area. Mechanical fasteners removably secure an opening between the layers of material to insert and remove the ceramic material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates in general to women's wearing apparel and moreparticularly, to a therapeutic brassiere capable applying heat or coldto the breast area of a woman.

2. Summary of the Prior Art

During various activities of a woman and physical conditions, it isdesirable for comfort, pain relief and well being, that heat or cold beapplied to the breast area. A typical brassiere only is present forcomfort and aesthetic reasons and has no thermal capability. However, awoman may experience significant pain and discomfort due to disgorgementof the breasts associated with breast feeding, surgery or other wellknown causes. In the case of nursing the application of heat to thebreasts may be highly soothing, beneficial for comfort and contribute tothe production of more milk. In other cases of swelling, the presence ofa cold pack can also be satisfying and comfortable. Further, duringphysical exercise the size of breasts may be reduced, a result that maynot desirable to many women. The application of a cold temperature tothe breasts while working out may contribute to the maintenance of thesize of the breast as well for comfort. The presence of heat or cold onthe breast area is desirable in many situations and health conditions.

Attempts have been made in the past to a temperature/applying capabilityin a brassiere to either provide warmth or cold to an individual. Someof the prior techniques of incorporating a thermal applying function ina brassiere rely on relatively complicated methods attempting tocirculate warm or cold fluid through the structure of the brassiere.Such fluid circulating systems are impractical, uncomfortable for theuser, and are relatively expensive. Other prior art designs ofbrassieres have not completely satisfactory in transferring heat and/orcold over the entire breast area as is desirable. It is thereforedesirable in the prior art to provide a therapeutic brassiere capable ofeffectively optimizing the application of heat or cold to substantiallythe entire breast area of a women.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of this invention to provide a multi-purposebrassiere capable of applying heat or cold to the breasts of a woman inan effective manner. The brassiere herein disclosed comfortably supportsthe breast and includes an internal thermal storing material that canselectively apply heat or cold as desired over relatively long periodsof time. The thermal sensitive material of the brassiere is removeablysecured within the body of the brassiere in proximity to the entirebreast area to encompass both breasts with beneficial heat or cold asneeded and extends above the breast for relief in that area. Thebrassiere of the invention is asethically pleasing to wear, is easy tofacilitate its thermal effect and relatively economical in cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the therapeutic brassiere of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 2, ofthe mounting of the temperature sensitive material in the therapeuticbrassiere of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2showing the mounting of the temperature sensitive material in thetherapeutic brassiere of FIG. 1; and

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1-3, there is illustrated the multi-purposetherapeutic brassiere of the invention, generally designated byreference numeral 2. The brassiere 2 includes a pair of generallyconcave bodies 4 forming cups for encompassing the breasts of a woman.The bodies 4 each include an internal layer 6 of a soft material, suchas cotton and the like, for contacting the skin in surroundingrelationship to a respective breast. A generally concave outer layer 8of a fabric material overlays the internal layer 6 and forms an internalpocket 10 (FIG. 3) for receiving in removable relationship aconventional light weight ceramic material 12, such as, for example,sold under the registered trademark Thermal Ceramix. The edge portions 6a and 8 a are sewn together as a permanent connection by threads 14. Theceramic material is capable of being heated in a microwave and the like.

The internal pocket 10 substantially surrounds the breast area of thewoman and the ceramic material 12 is sized and shaped to the pocket in agenerally concave configuration and also surrounds substantially theentire breast supported by each of the bodies 4. The shapes of bodies 4are generally tear shaped to provide an upper extension 13 incommunication with the pocket 10 for receiving the ceramic material 12to provide heat/cold above the breast. The ceramic material 12 may alsobe formed in other flexible shapes capable of assuming the concave shapeof body 4 when inserted in internal pocket 10. The ceramic material 12is removable through separable edge portions 16 a and 16 a of theinternal layer 6 and outer layer 8 for forming opening (not shown)through which the ceramic material 12 may be removed or inserted in theinternal pockets 10 of bodies 4. As stated previously, the ceramicmaterial 12 is produced from well known ceramic material that is capableof retaining heat or cold after respectively being heated or chilled byan external thermal source (not shown). Other available material capableof retaining heat/cold may be used in connection with the invention,such as, for example, gel packs and the like. The separable edges 14 a,14 b may be removably secured together to retain the ceramic material 12by mechanical fasteners (not shown), such as, for example, Velcro,snaps, buttons, hooks and the like.

The pair of bodies 4 is retained together by connecting strap 20. A pairof torso straps 22 is sewn at one end 24 to a respective one of thebodies 4 and has a free end 26 that may be secured together byconventional fasteners 28 for securing the brassiere 2 to the body of anindividual. Shoulder straps 30 may also be provided for further supportof the brassiere 2.

1. A multi-purpose brassiere for selectively applying heat and cold tosubstantially the breast area of an individual comprising a body forforming a cup for encompassing the breast of an individual, said bodyhaving an internal concave layer and outer concave layer for forming aninternal pocket, said internal concave layer and said outer layer havingedge portions being secured together, said body further having separableedge portions for forming a separable opening, a ceramic material beingremovably positioned in said internal pocket, said ceramic materialthermal having forming a concave shape within said internal pocket forsurrounding substantially the entire breast area of the individual, saidbody being generally tear drop shape to provide an extension above thebreast, said extension area further receiving said ceramic material. 2.The multi-purpose brassiere according to claim 1 wherein said separableedge portions are selectively secured by mechanical fasteners.